Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-06-03
THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM.
a Prediction that IL VIII IiIunine the
Heavens This Year.
L. IL l. D..


This year, il has been predicted, we ar
to witness an extraordinary piece o.
celestial freworks, viz, the reappear-
ance of the "Stsr of Bethlehem" and
since is is not impossible that the predic.
ton, although founded on rather meage1
data, will be fulfilled, If may not be
unwise 10 prepare ourselves for
the stars advent by inquirlng where
it will appear and what it may be
like. The history of this star is this {;
On the evening of November II, 1872, the
celebrated Danish astronomer, Tvcho
Brahe, returning from his laboratory,
CHANGED to cast his eyes heavenward to
the starry vault and was aston
ished 10 observe d star near the zenith
in CassiCOia, Of g magnitude never be-
fore seen. This new star was without g
tail, was not surrounded by nebulous
light and was perfectly like all other fixed
stars, with the exception that it sCintil-
lated more strongly than stars Of the first
magnitude. When first discovered its
brightness was greater than that Of Vega,
Sirius or Jupiter, and was comparable
Only TO that of Venus when she shines
with her greltest splendor. Its bril-
keen eyeSight could perceive It in the
daytime and even at noon. In the
following December it had diminished so
much in luster that it resembled Jupiter.
BY February, 1873, il had become re
duced in 0rillisnCy to an ordinary stsr OF
the first magnitude. BY the following
November, one Year after its first appear
anCe, II was only IF the fourth magnitude,
and It's light continued 10 fade until in
March, 1914, after having been visible
for seventeen months, it was no longer
disCerni0le TO 1.-THE naked eye. This was
thirty seven years before the invention OF
The telescope. Ia the year 945 and again
10 1864 brilliant stsr is recorded to have
made its appearance suddenly between
Ilg Co2s ellGtiUu of CepheUs and Cassie
pe.a, hear the place where the new star
appeared IN I512. These three phenomena
were not unnaturaily connected together
even by IyChy Brahe and mis- cOuiempc-
r-es, ana we're regarded as Temperatures
Of the same STIR. 1t was furthermore
that This star was no other than
the star of the magi, and
this question was warmly discussed
while the star was still shin
lng. i Is, possibly, belief in his iden-
tity which leo 10 the assignment to the
star OF a period OF 3l5 years. The actual
intervals are 3l9 aud sos years, which
gives 3 mean period of S13b years. But
II We reckon back from 1872 bY periods of
5l5 yesrs We ere brought TO the year B.
c., which is nearly Identical. according to
revised chronology, with the year of the
OiICh Of Christ. Lst us wait for this star
with becoming patience and see what we
shall see.
Venus and Jupiter sre still rivals for
as evening stars, although
the former sets before the latter has
reached his most commanding position in
the heavens. Jupiter is now rapidly
as may be observed by not
ing from night t. night his position with
relation to the star Spica. Saturn also is
"a evening star, but he sets at an early
hour Uranus, invisible to the naked
eye, is st about the same distance from
SpiCa, towards the west, as Jupiter is
soWsrd the east; Neptdne, Mars and Mer-
curry are now too near the sun to be visi-
Die.